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Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

This time, the Steelers quarterback will do it in the supporting role of a fan when he roots for the Penguins in the Stanley Cup final at Joe Louis Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.

"I plan on making a trip to Detroit and plan on being at all of the home ones if I can," Roethlisberger said after practice yesterday.

He, coach Mike Tomlin, football operations boss Kevin Colbert and other Steelers players have attended many of the Penguins' NHL playoff games, in addition to regular-season games at Mellon Arena.

"I love watching them play," Roethlisberger said. "They have a great chance. It will be a good series. I don't want it to go to seven because I hope they can sweep it, but a Game 7 and us winning it would be pretty sweet."

Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory when the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks two years ago in Detroit, where Steelers fans were estimated to make up 75 percent of the neutral-site crowd.

It will be a little different this time, since the Red Wings make their home in Detroit.

"I know they will be there in full effect," Roethlisbeger said of Penguins fans. "It was great for us because there were so many fans there. It's so close. It will be good for the fans."

Tomlin said he quickly became a Penguins fan since arriving in Pittsburgh last year. He attended one of their games, in fact, during one of his interviews for the job.

"It's awesome. I'm like another emerging hockey fan. My boys enjoy it, we enjoy going to the games. Man, they have an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, and I'm excited like everybody else is in Western Pa."

Players on the shelf

Rookie halfback Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) joined veterans who are not going through full practices because of injuries.

Tackle Marvel Smith skipped the day to attend to a personal matter and safety Troy Polamalu continues to train in California.

"What we want to do is come out of this offseason with a football team that is in shape, ready for training camp, and a football team that's healthy," said Tomlin, who will have spring practices each Tuesday through Thursday for this week and the next three. "So the guys who are not healthy at this point, we're gong to exercise a little caution."

Ward did practice after watching on the field during the mandatory minicamp at the beginning of the month, but Tomlin has him on a limited repetition count.

One player who did resume practicing is tackle Jason Capizzi, returning from a foot injury.

Simmons' shoulder surgery

Simmons, the starting right guard, had surgery with a scope on a shoulder May 14 after hoping to avoid doing so. The surgery, he said, was a "clean-up" to remove loose particles that were causing him pain.

"It's something I tried to hold off and be stubborn about it and get through it," Simmons said. "I didn't want to miss any games this year because of stubbornness. It will give me a chance to recover from it."

Kemoeatu, hand-picked to replace Alan Faneca at left guard, injured his hamstring working out over the past two weeks and did not practice as a precautionary measure.

2 rookies still in school

Linebacker Bruce Davis, the team's third-round draft choice, will miss three-fourths of the team's spring workouts because his semester at UCLA does not end until June 6 -- one week before the Steelers end their organized team activities June 12.

Roy Lewis, an undrafted free agent from Washington, is the only other rookie in that situation.

"Those guys go to quarter schools, they really can't come back until their school is done," Tomlin said, citing an agreement between the NFL and the NCAA. "It's unfortunate for them, but it's just that short-term misery. I'm sure they'll be prepared to catch up."

Re: Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

This time, the Steelers quarterback will do it in the supporting role of a fan when he roots for the Penguins in the Stanley Cup final at Joe Louis Arena against the Detroit Red Wings.

"I plan on making a trip to Detroit and plan on being at all of the home ones if I can," Roethlisberger said after practice yesterday.

He, coach Mike Tomlin, football operations boss Kevin Colbert and other Steelers players have attended many of the Penguins' NHL playoff games, in addition to regular-season games at Mellon Arena.

"I love watching them play," Roethlisberger said. "They have a great chance. It will be a good series. I don't want it to go to seven because I hope they can sweep it, but a Game 7 and us winning it would be pretty sweet."

Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory when the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks two years ago in Detroit, where Steelers fans were estimated to make up 75 percent of the neutral-site crowd.

It will be a little different this time, since the Red Wings make their home in Detroit.

"I know they will be there in full effect," Roethlisbeger said of Penguins fans. "It was great for us because there were so many fans there. It's so close. It will be good for the fans."

Tomlin said he quickly became a Penguins fan since arriving in Pittsburgh last year. He attended one of their games, in fact, during one of his interviews for the job.

"It's awesome. I'm like another emerging hockey fan. My boys enjoy it, we enjoy going to the games. Man, they have an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup, and I'm excited like everybody else is in Western Pa."

Players on the shelf

Rookie halfback Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) joined veterans who are not going through full practices because of injuries.

Tackle Marvel Smith skipped the day to attend to a personal matter and safety Troy Polamalu continues to train in California.

"What we want to do is come out of this offseason with a football team that is in shape, ready for training camp, and a football team that's healthy," said Tomlin, who will have spring practices each Tuesday through Thursday for this week and the next three. "So the guys who are not healthy at this point, we're gong to exercise a little caution."

Ward did practice after watching on the field during the mandatory minicamp at the beginning of the month, but Tomlin has him on a limited repetition count.

One player who did resume practicing is tackle Jason Capizzi, returning from a foot injury.

Simmons' shoulder surgery

Simmons, the starting right guard, had surgery with a scope on a shoulder May 14 after hoping to avoid doing so. The surgery, he said, was a "clean-up" to remove loose particles that were causing him pain.

"It's something I tried to hold off and be stubborn about it and get through it," Simmons said. "I didn't want to miss any games this year because of stubbornness. It will give me a chance to recover from it."

Kemoeatu, hand-picked to replace Alan Faneca at left guard, injured his hamstring working out over the past two weeks and did not practice as a precautionary measure.

2 rookies still in school

Linebacker Bruce Davis, the team's third-round draft choice, will miss three-fourths of the team's spring workouts because his semester at UCLA does not end until June 6 -- one week before the Steelers end their organized team activities June 12.

Roy Lewis, an undrafted free agent from Washington, is the only other rookie in that situation.

"Those guys go to quarter schools, they really can't come back until their school is done," Tomlin said, citing an agreement between the NFL and the NCAA. "It's unfortunate for them, but it's just that short-term misery. I'm sure they'll be prepared to catch up."

Congrats to the Pens even though they knocked my beloved Rangers out of the playoffs.

Re: Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

Originally Posted by NKySteeler

Originally Posted by LasVegasGuy

Damn, we have a minor league hockey team

Yup.... I think i's called the "Grey Cup", and you're in it.....

I was just pulling you leg. They are called the Wranglers and I have been to a couple of games at the Orleans. Not a bad place to watch a game. The arena is kind of small which is nice because no matter where you are you are right there in the action.

Re: Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

Originally Posted by LasVegasGuy

I was just pulling you leg. They are called the Wranglers and I have been to a couple of games at the Orleans. Not a bad place to watch a game. The arena is kind of small which is nice because no matter where you are you are right there in the action.

Re: Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

Originally Posted by NKySteeler

Originally Posted by LasVegasGuy

I was just pulling you leg. They are called the Wranglers and I have been to a couple of games at the Orleans. Not a bad place to watch a game. The arena is kind of small which is nice because no matter where you are you are right there in the action.

Well, you're goin' down.........

Thats ok,LVG should be used to it.................................awwwww,BURN!!!! !

Re: Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

Congrats to the Pens even though they knocked my beloved Rangers out of the playoffs.

....Hey lvg, I believe Cincy is playing Las Vegas in the ECHL cup......

Damn, we have a minor league hockey team

The Pens AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre (my local team) is in the conference finals of the Calder Cup playoffs. They are down 3-2 in the series after last night's 2-1 loss (former W-B/S Pen Steven Dixon scored both goals...he was traded to the Ducks organization for Tim Brent last offseason), but games 6 & 7 are in Wilkes-Barre this Friday and Saturday night. Let's go (both) Pens!!!

Re: Big Ben Gets Stanley Cup Fever

I wonder if the Pens fans really understand how fortunate you are. I'm not much of a hockey fan anymore (even though I used a Leafs avatar on the trib board), but this city is insane about it.

The Pens were on their way out of Pittsburgh in 1984 when they happened to be awful enough at just the right time to receive the gift of Mario Lemieux. That Stanley Cup team with him, Jagr, Coffey and Francis - 4 first ballot, front of the line HOFers - was the most star studded lineup since Edmonton had Mark Messier on the second line.

Then, well after Mario moves from the ice to the owner's box, the team seems destined to leave Pittsburgh once again. Then, lo and behold, Crosby and Malkin in back to back drafts, at the same time as the CBA is redone to limit the money that they have to pay them.

As a 20 year old, this guy is poised to lead his team to the cup. Whether or not they actually win it all this year is almost irrelevant. The fact is that the fans of the team will get to watch this guy play every night. Watch him go from talented teen to probably one of the greatest in history.

There really isn't an equivalent in football because no one player can dominate the game the way it can be done in hockey or basketball, but imagine having Bulls season's ticket the year they draft Jordan, and not giving them up until after he retired.

Pens fans are in for a very special experience. Most Leaf fans in this city would give their left nut to be in that position here. Then again, these days most Leaf fans would give their first born just to see the playoffs again.